Meteorological characteristics of dust storm events in Turkey

Abstract

This study investigates dust storm events and their associations with synoptic conditions for the seven geographical regions of Turkey Present weather reports from synoptic codes of 89 meteorology stations and 80 air quality stations from 2014 to 2019 were used to establish the climatological properties of frequent dust storm event days (DEDs) and high dust concentrations over Turkey. To investigate the role of synoptic mechanisms on DEDs, NCEP/NCAR daily mean sea level pressure and 700-hPa height values were used during DEDs for each region. According to the results, Marmara (MR), Aegean (AR), Central Anatolian (CAR), and Black Sea (BSR) regions are influenced by dust storms especially in spring months, and the movement of Sharav cyclones from its source location to Italy and Balkan Peninsula are responsible for transporting high amount of dust particles from the Sahara by strong south and/or southwesterly winds. On the other side, highest daily numbers of dust storms are observed in the Eastern- (EAR) and Southeastern- Anatolian Regions (SEAR) of Turkey during whole year, but mostly in spring and fall months. Differently from the other regional dust source areas, Arabian desert dust is frequently shown in these two regions of Turkey. In SEAR, while surface Cyprus Low and upper level Cyprus trough and associated strong southeasterly winds contribute to have high PM10 concentrations during winter and spring; surface Asiatic monsoon low enables transferring of Arabian dust particles to the region via dry hot air during summer and fall seasons.